Pneumatic water system



Jan. 2, 1934. 3. THQM 1,941,766

PNEUMATIC WATER sys'rsm Filed June 23, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E 2 E Q i INVENTOR. I way al.7720212,

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 2, 1934. THOM 1,941,766

PNEUMATIC WATER SYSTEM Filad June 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VEN TOR.

I BY 3050022720172.

A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 2, 1934. G. THOM PNEUMATIC WATER SYSTEM Filed June 23, 1932 Inf/AZ YIH i r u I Jan. 2, 1934. s. .-r|1oM PNEUMATIC WATER SYSTEM Filed June 23, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' I INVENTOR. ace/e1]. /wm,

mm mm Patented Jam-1934' UNITED are.

i rmaprw'nc WATER srs'ram George 'ln'lhom, Chicago, asslgnor 'to Chicago Pump Company, Chicago, lll;, a corpora tlonof Illinois Application June 2.2,

This invention relates to pneumatic water systems, and more particularly to water systems employing air pumps for supplying air under pressure to the storage tank or the system.

One of the objects 01 this invention is to provide an air pump actuated bythe inflowing'water, which replenishes the water drawn iromthe storage tank. A Another object is to provide. an pump actuated by the infiowingwater with means to regulate the quantity of air ted during each cycle of operation, so that an excess of air-will injected into the storage tank. r;

Other objects and advantages will appear. in the following specification, and withall of said .objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in a pneumatic water system having. an air pump operated by the-.inflowing water'ior supplying air under pressure to the storage tank. It further consists in a system having a water pump for pumping water into a tank or other vessel and a fluid pump for injecting air or other fluids into the tank or vessel and operated by the infiowing water handled by the water pump. The invention further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully setforth and claimed. The invention is clearly illustrated. in the ac- I companying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic water system equipped with-an airinjecting de-' vice included in the piping;

Fig. 2 is a central} vertical, longitudinal section through the air injecting device showing the pistons at the top of their up stroke;

Fig. 3 is a detail, horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail, horizontal the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the air injecting device seen in Fig. 2, but showing the pistons thereof in an intermediate position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 501 a modified form of the air injector;

Fig. '7 is a perspective viewform of the invention;

- Fig. 8 is a detail, longitudinal section of the air pump seen in Fig. '1 showing the two valve cylinders placed one above the other, and I Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 9.-9 o!Fig.8.

Referring to said drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the reference character 10 desigdates a liquid pump, desirably an electrically opsection on of another modified demand ismade trolled port s7 opens to the air cylinder at, its top 1932'. Serial No; 161839 1a Claims. (01. 10H) erated water pump which 'mayfbe connectedto the city mainor to any other source of liquid supply, as by piping 11, and from the water pump piping 12 leads through a rubber hose or other vibration absorb n fitting nipple 14 to a fluid injecting device here'shown in the form of an' air pump 15. 4 From the air pump, the piping continues through anippl'e 1 6;-a union 17 andfa valve 18 to a pneumaticjwater tank orother liquid con- .8 tainer,1 9;- j I The,storage tank is provided with a 'water glass 20, so that visual indications may beihad ofthe water line to. determine whether or .not, moreor less Fair need be added to the air cushion within 7 the tank. A branch pipe 21 connects with avisual pressure gauge 22 and a pressure switch:23; which' is includedin the electric circuit governing the intermittent operation of the electrically driven water pump '10, the electric wiring forwhich is 7 'seen at 10". .ThiS motive power is shown as onc means, but it is to be understood that any equivalent means may be used such as steam driven equipment with its controlling means. The storage tank 19 receives a quantity ot'water i'rom the'water pump' l0, where it is stored until by the building in which it is placed, and then the-water'flows from the storage tank through valve..24 and pimng. 25 which leads to the fixtures (not shown) in the building which the system serves. A quantity of com; pressed airv is confined inthe upp'er part0! the storage tank to give I that-the water pump will not berequired to' op crate every time a iaucet is opened, but instead, the water pump will handle a considerable quantity of water ateach operation to serve the buildingiorsometimc. I Th9 air pump 15 comprises a relativelylarge water'cylinderflflieee Figs. 2 to 5 in lusi and a-smaller Eir cylinder-27with the crossesectional areasvariedsoasto teapressurediflerential. a An .outercasing 15' of thecylinders flmj'l has. Dining-connections formed thereon -by which the air pump unit'isincluded n the plains w Leading 'down from the of the air, cylinder '21 to the pi lag-16in a passagetl which is controlledby'a check valve 39. seatlng'pna seat 40 at the top oi the air cylinder. A- valve con- 106 through which air or other fluid is drawn into the air cylinder; An inwardly opening check valve 36 controls the port 37. me water cylinder 26 is open at both ends and communicates at its upper end withthe chamber 15 oi. the casing 15 .which no 13, 'and' through a 50 1 flexibility tothesystem, so so lower end of the air cylinder. The lower open end of the water cylinder 26 communicates with the piping 16 through a duct 31 and a restricted orifice 32. Desirably, the'cylinders 26, 27 are pro- -v "pistons being held in this position by the higher pressure on the under side of the larger piston 28.

Flow of water through the casing is indicated by the arrows a (Fig; 2) and'when the water pump startsoperation, pressure builds up in the supply line to the unit 15, and this higher pressure exerts a downward force on the piston 28 to slide it down through the cylinder 26 until this piston engages a lug 30 on the casing.

With the higher pressure forcing the piston 28 down, the water. within the casing below said piston has to be forced out or displaced, through the duct 31 and orifice 32.to the piping 16, which leads to the storage tank-.19. This regulated fiow gives the piston 28 a'timed movement to minimize shock, and also to improve the operation of the unit during its cycle. The piston 28 may be of the type shown, built up of leather cups separated by spacers and followers or it may be of metal construction throughout with piston rings as in common practice.

When the piston 28 is forced down, the air piston 34 tends to rarify the air within the cylinder 27, at which time free air at atmospheric pressure forces past the check valve 36 into the cylinder 27 and fills the cavity therein. This presents a chamber of free air at substantially atmospheric pressure.

1 Continued downward movement of the piston 28 draws the air piston 34 downpast the intermediate position seen in 19g. 5 to-a position indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2, where it exposes the slotsor ports 38 to permit the water under pressure from the piping 14 chamber 15 and the water cylinder 27 to pass through the ports 38 and -up through the cylinder 27 where it forces the free air (previously admitted to the cylinder 27) past the check valve 39 and then through the passage 41 and the piping 16 to the storage tank.

Immediately following the entrapped air, the water .handled by the water pump flows this course on its way to the storage tank. Operation of the water pump 10 continues until sufiicient pressure is built up in the. storage tank to actuate the pressure switch 23 to open the circuit through the pump motor. Then as the water pump comes torest, the pressure on the water pump side of a the air pump 15 falls below that on the storage tank side thereof. The check valve 39 seats to prevent a return flow through the air cylinder 27, but a small stream of water under pressure from the storage tank passes though the orifice 32, through the duct 31 to the water cylinder 26 below the piston 38, and thereby raises the .pistomto its uppermost position, or until it con tacts with gthe lower end of the wall of the cylinder 27 or' an adjustable collar 42 thereon, which a regulates the limit of upward travel of this piston, With the rise of, the piston 28, the air piston 34 also rises to force the column of water eboveit past the check valve 39 or past the leather .also communicates with the air cylinder 27 through ports, slots or openings 38 adjacent the cup of the piston space.

When su'fiicient water has been withdrawn from the storage tank 19; the confined pressure again falls so as to actuate the pressure switch 23 and again operate the water pump. vWith each. cycle of operation, the air pump 15 performs a complete cycle of operation and injects a certain volume of 'air into the storage tank to replace air which may have beenabsorbed by the water or which may have escapedthrough small leaks.

As the'volume'of air is limited in the smaller 34 back into the low pressure systems, a balance will be reached to maintain a fairly uniform .condition of operation. When the system is first started, the water pump will raise the water level quite high in the storage tank-due to the smaller quantity of confined air within the tank. This means that at each cycle of operation'the water pump under this condition will operate during shorter intervals and put less water during each operation into the storage tank, resulting in more operations to supply a given quantity of water. This will cause a greater quantity of air being forced into the storage tank, and as the system gets further along in this service, this condition works more toward a normal operation.

From this sub-normal condition at the'start, the air injected will be greater than needed, and as the quantity of confined air increases, the water level will drop until such a time when the air im'ected will balance the loss due to absorption or leak losses, and the water pump will then have fewer cycles of operation with greater quantities of water furnished during each I operation.

In Fig. 6, substantially the same elements are used to accomplish the desired end as in the form tion of the parts are reversed,the water cylinder 46 being'located above the air cylinder 54. The lining 48 of the water cylinder. 46 is provided with ports 49 opening to a cavity 50,in the casing and controlled by a ringilike fiexible'valve 55 to pre-.' vent-inflow into the water cylinder 46 from the cavity 50. The nipple 14 is attached to a fitting on the casing 44 and the flow of water is through the chamber 45 to the upper end of the water cylinder 46. Pressure from the higher pump side forces the piston 47 down through the water cylinder 46 until the piston passes the row of ports 49, at which time the flow is through these ports to the cavity 50, and thence through the nipple 16 to the storage tank.

A stem 51 carries an air piston 52 which slides in the air cylinder 54. In the downward movement of the air piston 52 water which has previously accumulated in the air cylinder 54 is squeezed past the leather cup of the air piston,

thence up through the air cylinder 54 and out through the upper end thereof into the cavity 50 and out through the piping to the storage tank. When the water pump stops, the differential pressures on the two connections to the air pump again reverses. This causes the higher tank pressure to press the leather or similar valve 55 to seat against the ports 49 to thereby restrict reversal. of flow through these ports. However, this higher pressure in this reverse direction does not exert itself on the piston 47 and forces it upwardly to the top of its stroke or until it contacts an adjustable stop here shown as comp rising a screw 56 which may be hydraulically s:aled in he casing by apliable gasket 57 and a ..ock nut 15f v 1,941,760 58. This upward movement liits the air piston 52 which causes air'at atmospheric pressure to pass by the air check valve 59 and fill. the cavity "in the cylinder v54 formed by the rising air piston.

The air piston rises sumc'iently high to open the .-ports formed by slots 60 formed in the walls of the air cylinder. This liberates the air from the air cylinder through these ports and allows";

- water tofiow into the air cylinder to displace entrapped air. The air thus liberated is collected in the cavity -50 and upon the next operation it is carried :on to thestorage tank.

Every time the water pump operates it builds up a higher pressure inthe piping towards the storage tank and when the waterpump stops, a

reverse condition exists. By this pressure re- The modification shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 provides for larger installations where the storage tank capacities may be rated torone thousand gallons of water or more; This system comprises basically the same elements above described, but the modification includes a well known standardized adaptation of water or lift pump having a. double acting piston.'. In this modified form, a city service pipe 61 leads preferably through a valve 62 .and T 63 to an electrically driven water pump 64. From the water pump, the piping 61' includes a T 65, a union '66, a check valve 67 and a gate valve 68 on the way to the storage tank 69. The building service piping from the storage tank leads through a valve '11 and the piping 72 to the fixtures (not shown) in the building. The

service pipe 61.

- passes, through the air pump '76 and is' recirculated through this source as long as the water pump voperate'sand the valve 75 is open.

The-hydraulically operated air pump- '76 is preferably double acting and during a normal period of -operation oi the'water pump 64, the

- airpump makes a number of", strokes to inject numerous quantities of air into the storage tank 69 to meet the demands. As the quantity of confined air within the'storage tank increases, the controllingvalve maybe partly closed, or as the" case may be,-th.is valve may be entirely closed until more air is needed.

Although the exact construction of the hydraulically operated air pump '76 is not material to this invention broadly considered, I shall describe theone shown in detail. -I.-he hydraulically operated air pump '16 shown comprises a water cylinder 78 (see Figs. 8 and 9) in which two spaced pistons '19 are slidably mounted. These pistons are spaced by a stem 80 which extends into anair cylinder 81 through packings 82 and carries an air piston 83 in the air cylinder.

As the water pistons '79 reciprocate, theair piston 83 successively causes air-to enter the air cylinder 81 at atmospheric pressure through air check valves 84, and then forces the entrapped air through check valves 85 and through the piping 86, check valve 87 and valve 88 to the storage tank 69.

In Fig. 8, whichis merely a schematic view of the .two valve cylinders 95, 99 which contain the valves 89, 96 they are positioned one above the other for the purposes of illustration, but it is to be understood that they are located side by side as is seen in Fig. 9. The ports are indicated diagrammatically by parallel lines.

The water pistons 79 are actuated by water controlled by a main water valve 89 through ports 90, 91 and a discharge port 92. This main valve 89 isbuilt up 01 a number of pistons 93 spaced on a stem 94 and slidably mounted in a cylinder 95.

The spacing of these-pistons forms a number of I zoneswhich function to connect or cut oil water passages as will be explained hereinafter. An auxiliary valve 96 controls the operation of the main valve 89. This auxiliary valve 96 also comprises .a built up construction of pistons 97 held in spaced relation on a stem 98 and slidably mounted in the-cylinder 99. I

,Water under pressure from the water pump-64 enters the cylinder 99 from the piping '14 between the innermost pistons 97. Assuming the valves and pistons in the position shown in Fig. 8, water passes from thecentral zone or the cylinder 99 through port 100 to one end of the cylinder 95 to force the valve 89 to the position shown. This allows infiowing water to' pass from cylinder 99 through port 101 into cylinder 95 between two of the end pistons 93 and from this chamber through-the port 90 to force the pump pistons 79 to position shown. This exposes a port 102 and allows water under pressure to flow back to the cylinder 99 beyond one end of the valve 96 to. slide this valve to the limit of its opposite travel. As this valve 96 is moved, water from the corresponding space at its opposite end is discharged through a port 103 to the low'pressure discharge port and out throug the piping-'17.

-When the valve 6 has changed its position, reverseaction is set up in the valve 89'. The water which previouslypperated this valve will be discharged through port 100 which .will then be communicating through the space between the associated end pistons with port 104 which in turn leads to the discharge port 92. The high pressure fiow is thenv from the cylinder 99 through the port 105 to cylinder 95 to slide the valve 89 to its limit oi mo'vement in the opposite direction.

This allows water under pressure to fiow through port 106 and then through the port 91 to move the'pump pistons '19. as long as waterunder pressure flows from the piping 74 to the piping 77 ,and the number of operations determines-the quantity of air injected into the storage tank. g

Other modifications are apparent from the above specification and it is obvious that instead of injecting airinto a storage tank, chemicals may be injected into the liquids being pumped such as chlorine gas injected into water for swimming pools, boiler compounds in make up water for steam boilers and precipitating any sewage which is being pumped. It is tobe under- This action repeats itself 1 device.

I claim as new and desire to 1. In a system of the class described, in combination, a liquid container, a centrifugal liquid pump supplying liquid to said container and a fluid injecting device for injecting fluid into said container, said fluid injecting device having a.

pipe connection with the liquidpump and being actuated by pressure set up by said liquid pump.

2. In a system of the class described, in combination, a storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated centrifugal water pump supplying water to said storage tank, and an air pump for injecting air into said storage tank, said air pump having a pipe connection with water pump and being actuated by pressure set up by said water pump. v

3. Ina system of the class described, in combination, a storage tank, an intermittently operated centrifugal water pump for supplying water to said storage tank under pressure, controlled means for the motive power of the waterpump responsive tochanges of conditions taking place in the storage tank and a fluid injecting device for injecting fluid into said storage tank, said fluid injecting device having a pipe connection with the water pump andbeing actuated by pressure set up by the water pump.

4. In a system of the class described, in combination, a storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated centrifugal water pump supplying water to said storage tank, and. an air pump for supplying air to the storage tank, said air pump having pipe connections with the water pump and with the storage tank and, being actuated by the water pumped from said water pump to said storage tank.

5. In a system of the class described, in combination, a storage tank, a controlled-intermittently operated centriiugal water pump supplying water to said storage tank, and an air pump for. injecting air into said storage tank, said air pump having a pipe, connection with the water pump and being actuated by the pressure set up between said water pump and saidstorage tank.

6. In a system of the class described, in combination, a storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated centrifugal water-pump, piping between said water pump .and storage tank, and a fluid injecting device for injecting fluid into said storage tank interposed in said piping, said fluid injecting device being actuated by pressure set up by said water pump.

'1. In a system of the class. described, in combination. a storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated centrifugal water pump, piping between said water pump and storage tank, and an air pump for injecting air into said tank interposed in said piping, said air pump. being actuated by pressure set up by said water pump.

8. In a system of the class described, the combination, a storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated water pump, a water discharge pipe between said water pump and tank, a hydraulically actuated air pump for injecting air into said storage tank and piping from said water discharge pipe to said air pump.

9. In a system of the class described, in. com-- blnation, a storage tankja controlled intermittently operated water pump, piping between. said water pump and tank, a hydraulically actuated air pump for injected air into said storage tank,

secure by Letters Patent: 1

said air pump havingan air discharge pipe connected to the tank, and water inlet and waterdischarge sides, piping connections between the discharge sideof the water pump and water inlet side of the air pump and piping connections between the water discharge side of the air pump and inlet pipe to the water pump.

-' 10. In a system of the class described, in combination, a. storage tank, a controlled intermittently operated centrifugal water pump having piping connections with the storage 'tank,'and

through which the'wateris conducted to the tank, and a hydraulically actuated piston air 'pump having piping connections with the storagetank and adapted-to inject air into the same, said air pump having piping connections with the discharge side of. the water pump.

11. A tank for containing a'usable quantity of liquid held in confined limits, a centrifugal liquid pump for supplying additional liquid to said usable quantity, apipe connection between said liquid pump and the tank for conveying the liquid tothe tank, and a liquid operated fluid pump for adding a forei gn fluid to-said liquid, said liquid operated fluid pump being interposed in said pipe connection and being actuated by the liquid supplyirom said liquid pump.

12. In- ,a unit of the class described, a liquid; actuated fluid pump comprising differential pis 'tons and cylinders in which said pistons slide,

one of said cylinders serving to handle liquid and another fluid, and one of saidpistcns being actu- I ated by a source of liquid supply under pressure, and'the other of said pistons being actuated by said first mentioned piston for injectingv said other fluid into the liquid actuating said first mentioned piston.

13. In a unit of the class. described, a liquid actuated-fluid p mp comprising'difl'erentialpistons and cylinders in which saidpistons travel, one or said cylinders serving to handle liquid and another fluid, and one of said pistons being actuated upon by liquid in. its travel throughthe fluid pump and the other of said pistons injecting said other fluid" into saidliquid during the operationv of said air pump. I

14. In a unit of the class described, a liquid actuated fluid pump comprising differential pistons and cylinders in which said pistons travel, a liquid inletchamber, communicating with said cylinders throughports in the wall of the smaller cylinder, there being a valve controlled inlet port leading to said smaller cylinder and a valve con-- trolled discharge passage leading from said small-z er cylinder, and there being a duct leading from 1 said discharge passage to the larger cylinder'..- u

15. ha unit of the classdescribed, a liquid actuated fluid pump comprising differential pistons, andcylinders in whichthey travel, a liquid inlet chamber communicating with-the larger of said cylinders, and a discharge passage connecting with the smallercylinder, .through ports in the-wallet the smaller cylinder, therebeing a valve controlled air inlet port leading to said.

smaller cylinder, and,valve' controlled discharge ports leading from said largercylinder to said discharge passage; and said pistons controlling the ports in the two cylinders.

16. In a unit of the class describeddn combi- I nation, a pair of differential pistons, cylinders in .1

which said pistons travel, an air check'valv e opening to the smaller cylinder, a water inlet cham- -ber leading to the larger cylinder and a water and air discharge passage leading from the smaller cylinder, there being a valve' controlled port 18. The combination of a container for liquid,

a liquid pump for supplying liquid to the container and a fluid pump for supplying a fluid to said container, said fluid pump having connections with the liquid pump and having also a hydraulically operated piston reciprocated by liquid pumped by said liquid pump and valve mechanism for controlling the reciprocations of the piston.

GEORGE L. THOM. 

